I studied the other involuntary Controllers as I waited in line. It seemed pretty simple. They were moving around and then stopped when the Yeerk took over. I would just need to act like the Yeerk had taken over before Jareth actually entered my head.

I hoped he was a slow swimmer.

Meanwhile, of course, I made a lot of noise. I said a few things that I probably shouldn't have, but my parents weren't around and I hoped that Jareth wouldn't be back and make me pay for them. He had made it very clear that he would punish me for anything I did while he was outside of me.

Before long, it was my turn. One of the Hork-Bajir grabbed the right side of my head and pushed it underwater. I made a big deal about screaming and moving around. I waited until the Yeerk who I assumed was Jareth was just a foot or so away from my ear. I relaxed and stated, annoyed, "I am in control now."

The Hork-Bajir who had been pushing my head under water now helped me up. I couldn't believe that I had managed to get away with it, but I knew that I still needed to make it through the rest of the Yeerks.

I walked past the pool, trying to keep a calm expression on my face. I wanted to start laughing hysterically, but I knew that this would be suicide. I bit down on my tongue, pretty hard but not hard enough to draw blood, until I was out of the Yeerk pool area.

I was safe. More importantly, I was free.

I walked home, fully expecting the Yeerks to appear at any minute and start attacking. It didn't happen. I had actually gotten away with this. Me, Jason, who can't even get away with passing notes in class.

This was pretty major.

Of course, I realized soon enough that I'd have to go back to the Yeerks. Otherwise, they would find me and probably kill me. If they didn't kill me, they would infest me, and I didn't like to think what kind of a Yeerk they would put in someone who escaped the Yeerk pool. I liked being free, but I was more interested in staying alive and staying sane. This meant I would need a Yeerk who was relatively decent.

Or at least a Yeerk who didn't believe in mental torture except on special occasions.

Well, better would be a Yeerk who didn't torture me at all, but I couldn't afford to be picky.

My parents must have noticed that something was wrong because my mom noted, at dinner, that I seemed quiet. She was probably right; it was because I was thinking. I didn't actually say this; instead I made up some stuff about not feeling too well.

"Do you want to miss school tomorrow, Jason?" my mom asked, putting a hand on my forehead. "You feel a little warm."

Normally, I'd jump at the chance to miss school, but this seemed too risky. I needed to get in touch with Tidwell tomorrow…hopefully his Yeerk was at least reasonable and he would try to reassign me to a nicer Yeerk.

Judging by Jareth's emotions, I definitely could not go to Chapman about the Yeerk problem.

I shrugged. "I'll be okay. Maybe the day after…I have a test that I want to miss."

My mom rolled her eyes. "Nice try."

That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept tossing and turning. As glad as I was to be rid of Jareth, and as much as I did not want him inside my head again, I was not sure if my new idea would work.

Maybe I should just ask Tidwell to have the Yeerks kill me if they were planning on giving me another Yeerk like Jareth.

Sometime after 1AM, I managed to drift off a little. I almost overslept, probably because of my insomnia the night before, but my mom woke me up by banging on the door repeatedly.

Classes were hard. I couldn't concentrate. I planned what I was going to say to Tidwell. I figured I would try to see him during lunch.

Finally, lunchtime was there and I managed to find my teacher without running anyone down or freaking out in front of anyone.

I approached him in the hallway.

"Mr. Tidwell?" I asked.

"Yes, Jason?"

"Could I talk to you for a moment?"